CHILDREN ON CAMPUS POLICY


Date approved:	10 December 1999	Date Policy will take effect:	10 December 1999	Date of Next Review:	January 2009
Approved by:	University Council
Custodian title & e-mail address:	Director, EED lynne_wright@uow.edu.au
Author:	Director, EED
Responsible Faculty/ Division & Unit:	Employment, Equity and Diversity Unit
Supporting documents, procedures & forms of this policy:	Work/Life Balance website General Staff Enterprise Agreement 2005 Academic Staff Enterprise Agreement 2005
References & Legislation:	Anatomy Act, 1977 (NSW) ILO Convention No.156 on Workers with Family Responsibilities Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2000 (NSW)
Audience:	Public – accessible to anyone
Expiry Date of Policy:	Not applicable

Contents

1 Purpose of Policy 3
2 Definitions 3
3 Application & Scope 3
4 Policy Principles 3
5 For Students 4
6 For Staff 4
7 The University Library 4
8 Factors Taken into Account when Assessing a Request 4
9 Occupational Health and Safety 5
10 Infections and Diseases 5
11 Withdrawal of Permission 6
12 Appeals 6
13 Roles & Responsibilities 6
14 Version Control and Change History 6

1 Purpose of Policy

1. The University seeks to provide a ‘family friendly‘ work and study environment. A Children on Campus policy supports this aim and also recognises the University’s duty of care as a responsible employer. The policy seeks to strike a balance between the safety of children on campus, limiting their exposure to risks, whilst maintaining equity standards. The policy seeks to address both occupational health and safety and equal opportunity issues.

2 Definitions

Word/Term	Definition (with examples if required)
Children	For the purposes of the this policy a child is under 15 years of age
Contagious disease	Any disease easily transmitted by contact
Parent or Guardian	A person legally responsible for a minor
Staff	An employee, honorary or visiting appointee or the holder of a University office or a member of a University committee
Students	A person registered for a course
Visitors	Any person coming onto campus who is not a student or staff member
Young People	For the purposes of working in the Library a person aged 13 – 18 years

3 Application & Scope

1. The policy applies to any person who has care and control of a child on the University campus with the exception of premises leased or operated by separate legal entities such as the Illawarra Technology Centre, Wollongong UniCentre, including KidsUni, and the University Recreation and Aquatic Centre.
2. The policy applies to members of staff, students and visitors.

4 Policy Principles

1. Parents or nominated guardians retain ultimate responsibility for the safety of children in their care. They must ensure supervision of the child at all times. Parents or nominated guardians should not expect staff or students to look after the child.
2. The University of Wollongong has occupational health and safety policies on the provision of a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors. However, the presence of children on campus raises specific issues for staff, students and the University. There is a need for regulation as well as discretion and ‘reasonableness’ in meeting the expectations of parents/guardians and expectations of those making decisions about children on campus.
3. The University of Wollongong recognises that:

a. there is a longstanding University culture in which many students and staff bring their children on campus from time to time;
b. the safety of all persons on campus, including children, is of the utmost importance;
c. the education function and effective operation of the University must be maintained and the presence of children on campus must be accommodated within this requirement; and
d. there is a need to identify the responsibilities of the person supervising the children, the requisite level of supervision, appropriate areas for children and inappropriate areas for children to be present.

5 For Students

1. In circumstances unforseen or difficult to avoid and where they are unable to make alternative arrangements, students may need to be accompanied by their child while attending class. A request for permission for a child to accompany a student to class is to be directed to the relevant lecturer or person in charge of the activity at the time. Such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld. An appeal process is provided in section 12.

6 For Staff

1. From time to time, a child may accompany staff to work. Permission to do so must be obtained from the relevant supervisor.
2. It must be ensured that the presence of children in the University does not disrupt the normal business of the University. Additionally, parents or guardians have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the child in the university environment. Particular attention must be paid to the potentially hazardous areas listed in Section 9 (Occupational Health and Safety) of this document.

7 The University Library

1. All users of the University Library are required to respect and comply with the conditions necessary to provide an appropriate atmosphere for study and research as detailed in the Code of Conduct-Library. Young people (13-18 years of age) may work in the Library without supervision, provided their conduct is appropriate. Children (under 13 years) should not be left in the library unaccompanied.

8 Factors Taken into Account when Assessing a Request

1. Requests by students or staff to bring their children onto the University campus will be handled with sensitivity and reasonableness.
2. The presence of children may be permitted subject to the notion of reasonableness, which may include among other things:

a. safety of the child in the relevant environment (some areas are “no go” areas under all circumstances);
b. degree of interference with other staff/employees/students;
c. whether the child is sick and level of contagion;
d. age of the child;
e. length of time involved/ frequency of attendance;
f. content of lecture, discussion (certain sensitive or explicit subject matter may upset the child);
g. size of tutorial rooms/availability of seating;
h. notification to the lecturer or supervisor;
i. continued reasonable behaviour by the children; and
j. others are not being interrupted/inconvenienced by the children.

9 Occupational Health and Safety

1. The University of Wollongong recognises it has a legal responsibility to ensure a safe environment for employees, students and visitors. This is set out under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW).
2. This legislation has been tested and confirmed through case law and precedents at other Australian Universities and within other organisations. The University’s duty of care extends to all members of the campus community – staff, students and visitors. Recognising the potential hazards occurring in the University environment and the diverse nature of the campus community, the University needs to take all reasonable practicable steps to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment. Provision of a safe environment for children is an integral part of the University’s responsibility under the Occupational Health & Safety Act, 2000 (NSW), as well as under a general duty of care.
3. Children below the age of 15 should not normally be permitted in the following areas:

science type laboratories;

trades workshops;

clinical areas;

kitchens;

construction sites or areas with minor works/maintenance taking place;

machinery area and areas where grounds equipment is in use;

art studios;

areas displaying inappropriate or graphic material;

storage facilities/store rooms/plant rooms;

areas which store chemicals and dangerous goods;

areas licensed to sell alcohol unless accompanied by the adult (applies to children under 18 years of age); and,

other areas potentially hazardous to children.

4. There will however be special circumstances in which children may enter the above areas. These circumstances MUST be with the full knowledge and permission of the Head of Unit and include full consideration of appropriate supervisory measures. Examples of special circumstances include Open Day activities, Science School activities with school children, participation in research involving children that has been approved by the Ethics Committee.
5. Children will not be permitted into anatomy laboratories in accordance with the provisions of the Anatomy Act, 1977 (NSW).

10 Infections and Diseases

1. Ill children or those who have a contagious disease should not be brought onto campus to prevent exposure of health risks to others.
2. A number of childhood diseases are extremely contagious and can create serious health risk to adults, both staff and students. Parents/guardians of sick children have a particular responsibility to make appropriate care arrangements, which will not adversely effect the health of others.

11 Withdrawal of Permission

1. Where a child has become disruptive or is inconveniencing staff in the workplace or students in the classroom, a parent or guardian may be required to remove the child.
2. The person in charge of the class/workplace has the right to request the parent or guardian to remove a child in these circumstances.
3. Alternative permission/reporting arrangements, consistent with the intent of this policy, may be made if existing reporting structures or other circumstances require.

12 Appeals

1. If students are of the view that permission has been unreasonably refused, they should refer the matter to the Head of Department/Unit for review of the decision. In reviewing the decision, the Head of Department should seek the view of the Dean of Students before making a final decision. The matter should close at this point.
2. If staff members are of the view that their immediate supervisor has unreasonably refused that permission, they should refer the matter to the person at the next supervisory level. In reviewing the decision, this person should seek the view of the Director of Employment Equity & Diversity before making a final decision. The matter should close at this point.

13 Roles & Responsibilities

1. Roles and responsibilities are as detailed in this policy.

14 Version Control and Change History

Version Control	Date Effective	Approved By	Amendment
1	10 December 1999	University Council	New Policy
2	5 November 2002	Administrative Committee	Approval to add breastfeeding on the campus
3	6 May 2009	Vice Principal (Administration)	Migrated to UOW Policy Template as per Policy Directory Refresh Appendices deleted as the information was out of date. Information on leave and child care options can be found on the Work/Life Balance website http://staff.uow.edu.au/eed/balance/index.html

Last reviewed: 21 May, 2009

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